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When we talk about Page Speed Optimization, one of the most critical metrics is the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). It directly impacts user experience and SEO rankings, making it a key factor in how Google evaluates your website’s performance.
While lazy loading images and elements can significantly reduce page weight and improve initial load times, it can sometimes backfire. If your main hero image or above-the-fold content is lazy loaded, it may delay the LCP score. This means the largest visible element on the screen isn’t rendered quickly, leading to slower perceived performance—even if the rest of the site loads fast.
That’s why many Website Optimization Services recommend using lazy loading strategically—only for below-the-fold images and elements—while ensuring priority resources like hero images, banners, and critical text are excluded.
Key Takeaways:
From my own experience, I once worked on a client site where LCP was stuck at over 4s despite compressed images. The culprit? A hero image being lazy loaded! Once excluded from lazy loading and preloaded correctly, the LCP improved dramatically.
What’s your take?
Let’s share experiences and practical tips—your insights might help others struggling with the same issue.
While lazy loading images and elements can significantly reduce page weight and improve initial load times, it can sometimes backfire. If your main hero image or above-the-fold content is lazy loaded, it may delay the LCP score. This means the largest visible element on the screen isn’t rendered quickly, leading to slower perceived performance—even if the rest of the site loads fast.
That’s why many Website Optimization Services recommend using lazy loading strategically—only for below-the-fold images and elements—while ensuring priority resources like hero images, banners, and critical text are excluded.
Key Takeaways:
- Lazy loading boosts performance but may harm LCP if misused.
- Properly prioritizing critical content improves Core Web Vitals.
- Balancing image optimization with lazy loading is crucial for user experience.
From my own experience, I once worked on a client site where LCP was stuck at over 4s despite compressed images. The culprit? A hero image being lazy loaded! Once excluded from lazy loading and preloaded correctly, the LCP improved dramatically.
What’s your take?
- Have you seen lazy loading affect your site’s LCP?
- Do you preload critical images, or rely on other techniques?
- What tools do you use to monitor LCP and optimize performance?
Let’s share experiences and practical tips—your insights might help others struggling with the same issue.